Rotary engine.



v PATENTED NOV. 8, 1904. E. ANDERSON & N. W. FLETCHER. l

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED APB.. 3, 1903. No MODEL 2 SHEETB-SHEET 1.

ma 14n/6,518.

PATENTED NOV. 8, 1904. E. ANDERSON & N. W. FLETCHER.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED APB.. 3, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES Patented November 8, 1904.

PATENT OEEIcEm ELOF ANDERSON AND NATHAN W; FLETCHER, OE BATAVIA, ILLINOIS, AS-

SIGN ORS, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO TURBINE MOTOR TOOL COMPANY, OE CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

ROTARY ENGINE.'

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 774,547, dated November 8, 1904.

Applicatie; flied April 3,1903.

To @ZZ wiz/0m it may concern:

Beit known that we, ELoF ANDERSON and NATHAN W. FLETCHER, citizens of the United States, residing at Batavia, county of Kane, State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Rotary Engines; and we declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

Our invention relates generally to engines, and more particularly to rotary engines of the turbine type.

It is desirable to diminish the How of motive Huid through an engine when the load is re- A further object of our invention is'to provide a turbine the direction of rotation of which may be readily reversed.

A still further object of our invention is to provide a rotary engine of the class referred to which will besirnple in construction, inexpensive in manufacture, and eflcient in use.

Our invention, generally described, consists in a rotary shaft upon which is mounted a turbine comprising a hub and a series of radial vanes, the hub having ports therethrough on either side of each vane, the ports on the corresponding side of each of the several vanes being adapted to simultaneously register with motive-iiuid supply-ports through the shaft to effect rotary motion in one direction, rotary motion in an opposite direction being effected 'surface of which is outwardly tapered.

y Serial No. 150,884. (No model.)

by simultaneously bringing the ports on the opposite side of each of the several vanes into register with the supply-ports.

Our invention further consists in uniting the turbine to the shaft so as to have a slight rotary-motion relative thereto, whereby the extent of registry of the ports through the hub with the supply-ports in the shaft may be varied.

Our invention will be more fully described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the same is illustrated in a convenient and practical form, and in which- Eigure 1 is an elevational view; Fig. 2, a sectional view on line 2 2, Fig. l; Fig. 3, a sectional view on line 3 3, Fig. 1; Eig. 4, a View similar to Fig. 3, showing the parts in position to effect rotary motion in a reverse direction; Fig. 5, a sectional view on line 5 5,

Fig. 3; and Fig. 6, a sectional View on line 6 6, Fig. l.

Similar reference characters are used to designate similar parts in the several figures of the drawings.

B designates a shaft, whichis rotatably supported by any suitable means-such, for instance, as the posts A and A2, which are united 'by a base A. The top of the post A supports a strap rt, which completes the bearing around the shaft at such point. The upper end of the post A2 is provided with a ring 02, the interior A bushing C is located within the ring t2 and i's prevented from rotating relatively thereto by any suitable means-such, for instance, as extending a short tube c'- through the ring t2 into engagement with the bushing C.`

C indicates a conduit communicating with the tube c and leading from a source of motive fluid-such, for instance, as an air-compresser or a reservoir containing compressed Y tends within the bushing C. The portion B of the shaft is provided with an interior chamber B2, which is closed at its end by any suitable means*such,for instance,as the plug' b2. Two or more ports f extend through the wall of the portion B of the shaft, placing the interior B2 thereof in communication with an annular groove c, formed in the interior surface of the bushing C and which is in communication with the tube c. A plurality of ports which are shown as three in number, spaced at equal distances apart, lead from the hollow interior B2 to the exterior surface of the enlarged portion B of the shaft.

A turbine is mounted upon the portion B of the shaft and closely engages the exterior surface thereof. The turbine comprises a hub D, from which extend a plurality of radial vanes D', which in the present instance are shown as three in number. Located at either side of the vanes are disks D2, which extend radially around the hub D. T he vane is retained longitudinally upon the shaft by any suitable means-such, for instance, as lock-nuts G and G2, located around the shaft B and projecting into engagement with the respective ends of the hub D. The opposite surfaces of the several vanes D are concave and of such a curvature that the vanes gradually increase in thickness from the hub to their upper peripheries. Extending' through the hub D on either side of and adjacent to the vanes are ports e and e2, respectively. The several ports e are so spaced apart that they may simultaneously register with the ports Z, leading through the shaft to the hollow interior B2 thereof, as shown in Fig. fi. The ports @2 are likewise so spaced apart that they may simultaneously register with the ports when the vane and shaft are relatively rotated to the position shown in Fig. t.

Vhen one set of the ports c' and e2 register with the ports b', the other set are closed by the exterior surface of the shaft between the ports Z2.

In order that the turbine and shaft. may be relatively rotated a distance necessary to bring into register either of said ports e or e2 with the ports b,aslot (Z is provided through the hub D, into which projects a pin fixed to the portion B of the shaft. lVhen the ports c2 register with the ports b', the pin I) engages the end of the slot shown Figs. l and 6; l/Vhen, however, the turbine is in position to effect a registry between the ports e and Zi, the pin b engages the other end slot d.

In order that either series of ports c or e2 may only partially register with the ports b when there is no load upon the engine, or, in other words, when there is no resistance offered to the rotation of the shaft B, a yielding connection is interposed between the turbine and the shaft, which normally retains the ports e in the relation to the ports b shown in Fig. 4c when the engine is unloaded,

but which when a load is imposed upon the engine and the rotation of the shaft is consequently retarded permits the turbine to relatively move ahead of the shaft a slight distance allowed by the pin Z) and slot d, so that the ports e and are brought into full registry. Such yielding connection is shown as embodied in a springI rod or wire F, secured at its lower end f to the shaft B and adapted to engage at its opposite ends with a hole f2 in the adjacent side wall D2 of the turbine to locate the ports e in register with the ports b or to engage a hole f when the ports e2 are to register with the ports 7).

H indicates an emery-wheel which surrounds the reduced end B3 of the shaft and is retained thereon bythe nut G2. It is of course obvious that the rotary motion imparted to the shaft B by the turbine may be utilized for other purposes than that of driving an emery-wheel.

The operation of ourinvention is as follows: Vhen it is desired to rotate the shaft B in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 8, the end of the spring-rod F is inserted in the hole f, which brings into registry the ports @2 with the ports b. The motive fluid then passes through the conduit C, tube c, annular groove c, ports 02 to the hollow interior B2 of the enlarged portion B of the shaft, thence through the ports b, and escapes through the ports c2 and is directed by them against the curved surfaces Z2 on the respective vanes D'. Then resistance is offered to the rotation of the shaft Bas, for instance, when the emerywheel is in contact with the surface being worked upon-the impact of the huid-pressure upon the surfaces Z2 of the vanes rotates the turbine forwardly with respect to the shaft the slight distance permitted by the slot-andpin connection, such movement being permitted by the resiliency of the spring-rod F. When the resistance to the rotation of the shaft is removed, the resilience of the springrod relatively rotates the turbine and shaft in a reverse direction, so that the registration between the ports e2 and b will be restricted, thereby diminishing the flow of motive fluid through the turbine, resultingI in a saving of the motive fluid and in avoiding the wear upon the engine which would result from the racing or rapid rotation which would occur if the maximum discharge of fluid-pressure continued. Vhe'n it is desired to rotate the turbine, and consequently the shaft in an opposite direction, the end of the spring-rod F is disengaged from the hole f and inserted in the hole f2, as indicated in Fig. 4, at which time, when there is no load upon the engine, a restricted series of passage-ways is afforded through the ports b' and ports e, through which motive fiuid passes into contact with the surfaces CZ on the respective vanes D. W hen a load is imposed upon an enginesuch, for instance, as the engagement of the emery-wheel H with material to be worked IOO TIO

upon-the impact ofthe motive fluid upon the vanes causes the turbine to rotate slightly ahead of the shaft, thereby bringing into full registry the ports c and Z2', such relative movement between the turbine and shaft being permitted by the resiliency of the spring-rod and being' limited bythe engagement of the pin L with the end of the slot CZ.

From the foregoing description it will be observed that we have invented an improved rotary engine of the turbine type, in which the discharge of motive Huid therethrough is automatically regulated according to the load upon the engine and which may be readily so adjusted as to rotate in either direction.

While we have shown our invention as adapted to rotate an emery-wheel,it is of course obvious that it is capable of use wherever the rotation of a shaft may be availed of, and while we have shown three radial vanes it is evident that such number may be increased or diminished,it being' only necessary that ports should lead to the opposite sides of suoli vanes, the ports on corresponding sides of the vanes being capable of simultaneous registry with supply-ports to impart rotary motion in one direction and the ports on the opposite corresponding sides of the vanes being capable of simultaneous registry with supply-ports upon slightly rotating the turbine with respect to such supply-ports.

lVhile we have described more or less precisely the details of construction, we do not wish to be understood as limiting ourselves thereto, as we contemplate changes in form, the proportion of parts, and the substitution of equivalents as circumstances may suggest or render expedient without departing from the spirit of our invention.

Having fully described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isM

l. ln-a rotary engine, the combination with a plurality of vanes, of a rotary driven element upon which said vanes are adjustably mounted, means for discharging motive iuid through said driven element against corresponding sides of said vanes to impart rotary motion thereto, and means for automatically varying the discharge of motive fluid according to the resistance offered to the rotation of the vanes.

2. The combination with a turbine comprising a hub and radial vanes projecting therefrom, of a rotary support upon which said turbine is mounted, said turbine and support having registering' ports through which motive i'luid passes into contact with the surfaces of the vanes, and means for automatically varying the degree of registry of said ports according to the resistance offered to the rotation of said support.

3. The combination with a turbine comprising a hub and radial vanes projecting therefrom, of a rotary support upon which said turbine is mounted, 'saidturbine and support having registering ports through which motive iiu'id passes into contact with the surfaces of the vanes, a yielding connection between said turbine and support tending to retain the ports therein in partial registry, and a stop for limiting the relative rotation of said turbine upon said support when the ports therein are in full registry.

4. The combination with a turbine comprising a hub and a plurality of vanes carried by the hub, of a hollow rotary cylindrical support upon which said hub is rotatively mounted, said hub having a series ot' ports therethrough adjacent to the corresponding sides of the vanes'and a second series of ports therethrough adjacent to the opposite corresponding sides of said vanes, said support having a series of ports therethrough, means for adjusting the position of the turbine upon said support whereby either of said series of ports through the hub may be brought into registry with the ports through the support, and means for supplying motive iiuid to the hollow interior of said support.

5. The combinationwith a turbine comprising a hub and a pluralitypf vanes carried by the hub, of a hollow rotary cylindrical support upon which said hub is rotatively mounted, said hub having a series of ports therethrough adjacent to the corresponding'sides ofthe vanes and a second series of ports therethrough adjacent to the opposite corresponding sides of said vanes, said support having a series of ports therethrough, means for adjusting the position of the turbine upon said support whereby either of said series of ports through the hub may be brought into registry with the ports through the support, a yielding connection between said turbine and said support tending to retain the series of ports in said support in partial registry with the cooperating ports in the hub, said connection permitting'said ports to fully register upon the hub moving relatively to the support when resistance is offered to the rotation of the support, and means for supplying motive fluid to the hollow interior of said support.

6. The combination with a turbine comprising a hub and radial vanes projecting therefrom, of a rotary support upon which said turbine is mounted, said turbine and support having registering ports through which motive luid passes into contact with the surfaces of the vanes, a spring-rod rigidly secured to the support and engaging said turbine to so relatively locate the turbine about the support that the ports therein will be in partial registry, said rod adapted to yield when resistance is oiered to the rotation of said support to permit the turbine to move relatively to the support thereby bringing into full registry the coperating ports.

7. The combination with a turbine compris- IOO IlO

ing a plurality of vanes, of a rotary cylindrical support upon which said turbine is rotatively mounted, said turbine having a series of ports leading' to the corresponding sides of the vanes and a second series of ports leading to the opposite corresponding sides of the vanes, said support having a series of ports therethrough adapted to register with either series of ports through the turbine, a spring-rod rigidly secured to said support and removably engaging said turbine to so position the saine upon the support that either set of ports therethrough will be in partial registry with the ports through the support, said rod adapted to yield when resistance is oifered to the rotation of said support to permit the turbine to move relatively to the support and the ports thereby brought into full registry.

8. In a turbine, the combination with a shaft, of means for rotatively supporting said shaft, a plurality of radial vanes adjustably mounted upon said shaft, and means for discharging motive fluid through said shaft against either side of said vanes whereby said shaft may be rotated in either direction.

'9. In a turbine, the combination with a shaft, of means for rotatively supporting said shaft, a plurality of radial vanes mounted upon said shaft, means for discharging motive iiuid through said shaft against either side of said vanes whereby said shaft may be rotated in either direction, and means for varying the discharge of motive iiuid against the vanos according to the resistance offered to the rotation of the shaft.

10. In a turbine, the combination with a rotary driven element having a supply-passage therein and a radial port leading from the supply-passage, of a rotary driving element surrounding and movable relatively to said driven element and having a passage in register with said port, and means for adjusting the position of said driving element upon said driven element to vary the degree of registry between said port and passage.

ll. In a turbine, the combination with a ro- ELOF ANDERSON. NATHAN W. FLETCHER.

Witnesses:

Guo. L. WILKINSON, C. C. CUNNINGHAM. 

